Faypien holds off stablemate Noted and Quoted in Angels Flight

Bob Baffert’s Faypien cruised to dueling leaders Princess Karen and Selcourt a quarter mile out and went on to hold off stablemate Noted and Quoted by a half length in winning Sunday’s $75,000 Angels Flight Stakes at Santa Anita. Ridden by Joe Talamo, Faypien covered seven furlongs in 1:23.21.

“After her last work (six furlongs in 1:12 flat on May 8), she showed Bob that she was ready to enter this race, so we entered and drew well,” said Baffert assistant, Jimmy Barnes. “She’s really just getting better and better.”

Lightly raced, Faypien, who came off a maiden win here at the same distance on April 23, broke from the far outside in a field of six 3-year-old fillies, was a joint fourth while full of run past the half mile pole and wheeled three-wide at the top of the stretch.

“We got the perfect trip,” said Talamo.“We laid right off the speed and around the turn she moved up to those other fillies. I held off Bob’s other filly that last part. She’s very professional with everything and really nice. It’s fun to ride those kinds of horses.”

Off at 5-2 in her third career start, Faypien paid $7.40, $4.00 and $2.40.

Purchased by Baoma Corporation for $720,000 as a 2-year-old in training in April, 2016, the Florida-bred daughter of Ghostzapper picked up $46,800 for the win, increasing her earnings to $85,680.

Ridden by Martin Garcia, Grade I winning Noted and Quoted was fourth at the rail turning for home, waited for room and shifted to the middle of the track a sixteenth out and surged late, finishing second, 1 ¼ lengths in front of favored Selcourt.

Off at 7-2, Noted and Quoted paid $4.00 and $2.60.

Favored at 6-5 with Tyler Baze, Selcourt, who appeared to throw her head while between horses at the top of the lane, paid $2.20 to show.

“She wants to run off the racetrack,” said Baze of his headstrong mount. “She wants to make a right-hand turn instead of a left. I don’t know, I had everything the way that I wanted it today. I can’t really make excuses.”

Fractions on the race were 22.09, 44.34 and 1:09.64.